Bascom Lamar Lunsford, the great physician, singer/banjoist, folksong collector, folk music festival organizer, on a 10 inch Folkways LP that I've had since the mid-50s, sings a version of this song.

It is similar but not exactly the same as that in the DT, so I'll submit it here:

THE BANKS OF THE OHIO

I asked my love to take a walk
Just a walk, a little way
That she and I may have a talk
All about our wedding day.

CHO: Then only say that you'll be mine
And our home will happy be
Down beside where the waters flow
On the banks of the Ohio.

I held a knife close to her breast
Closely to her bosom pressed.
Oh Willie dear, don't murder me
For I am unprepared to die.

CHO:

I took her by the lily white hand
Led her to the river strand
Plunged her in where she would drown
And stood and watched where she floated down.

CHO:

Returning home 'twixt twelve and one
Thinking 'bout the deed I done
I drowned the girl that I loved best
Because she would not be my bride.

CHO:

Maybe it's only because this was the first version I heard, but I prefer this to that in the DT and the ones given earlier in this thread. My reasons have to do mainly with the fact that this text scans better for singing, in my opinion. That in the DT and given earlier have awkward scansion, in my opinion.

Dave Oesterreich